Took my 1994 Touring out for a longer than normal drive a few weeks back and noticed that the center console rearward of the shifter got unreasonably warm. Searched around on the forum and the consensus for heat in that area seemed to be transmission related. Namely, change the fluid and check the rubber boot around the shifter.

Seemed odd to me that the transmission would be generating enough heat to make it all the way into the cabin, but I planned to check and change my fluid anyways.

I had also recently seen a thread about a self-igniting Bose center channel amplifier that caused an under-dash fire, and had decided it was time to unplug/remove mine.

Cracked open my shop manual this morning to get some more details about how to remove it, and it became quite clear what the source of my center console heat was....

Presumably due to the addition of the passenger airbag in 1994, Mazda relocated this amplifier to the top of the transmission tunnel area, under the center console.

Took my car apart, removed the amplifier, and sure enough it had been overheating. The plastic cover was warped from the heat. Was probably a matter of time before it started a fire.

TL;DR: If you have a 1994 and up car with the Bose system and you notice your center console is hot REMOVE THE AMPLIFIER before it sets your elbow on fire.

 

Personally I've never seen the bose system fail in a way that could cause a fire. The transmission gets that hot because heat will conduct from the rear iron to the bell housing. You will also get some radiant heat from the downpipe. Make sure the metal shields are all intact around the trans tunnel and downpipe area. Wrapping the downpipe also helps. Finally you could put some heat shielding under the center console.

 

The transmission can only get so hot. It's a RWD turbo car and exhaust passes in that area. Maybe an original owner or somebody with a super low mileage stock FD can chime in. Did they always get this hot in this area? Or is it a matter of clogged cats, or aftermarket exhaust systems with no heat shields?

 

If you have a Bose amp under your tranny tunnel, the heat can melt plastics and catch fire.

 

There are two reported instances of the center channel amplifier catching fire here on the forum:

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...aster-1040757/

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generati...h-pix-1071519/

There's no question that my amplifier was overheating as well. The plastic cover on the amplifier assembly was melted only in the area above and around the heatsink. It was probably only a matter of time before mine caught fire too.